§6451. Lobster Fund

1.Allocation of license fees.
Ten dollars of each $135.75 fee, $10 of each $132 fee, $10 of each $136 fee, $20 of each $203 fee, $20 of each $272.50 fee, $30 of each $407.25 fee, $30 of each
$387 fee, $60 of each $785 fee, $60 of each $790.75 fee, $120 of each $1,587.50 fee,
$180 of each $2,369.25 fee, $5 of each $65 fee and $5 of each $66 fee for each lobster
and crab fishing license must be allocated to the Lobster Fund, which must be used
for the purposes of lobster biology research, of propagation of lobsters by liberating
seed lobsters and female lobsters in Maine coastal waters and of establishing and
supporting lobster hatcheries.

[
2009, c. 561, §18 (AMD)
.]

2.Purchases; liberation.
The commissioner may authorize the expenditure of the money in the Lobster Fund for
the purpose of purchasing seed lobsters from Maine lobster pound owners and female
lobsters from wholesale seafood license holders. The commissioner shall establish
the purchase price for seed and female lobsters after consultation with the industry.
The commissioner shall give priority to purchasing seed lobsters.

[
1979, c. 127, §85 (AMD)
.]

3.Liberation and v-notching.
The commissioner may provide purchased seed lobsters to lobster hatcheries. The
remaining seed and all other female lobsters shall be liberated in the coastal waters
after v-notching them in the right flipper. The right flipper shall be determined
as established under section 6436, subsection 1.

[
1985, c. 237, §2 (RPR)
.]

4.Program.
The commissioner may authorize the expenditure of money in the Lobster Fund for research
and development programs which address the restoration, development or conservation
of lobster resources.

[
1985, c. 237, §2 (RPR)
.]

5.Nonlapsing fund.
The Lobster Fund shall not lapse.

[
1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW)
.]

6.Lobster hatcheries.
The commissioner, with the advice of the Lobster Advisory Council, may authorize
expenditure of money from the Lobster Fund, any available funds and, as appropriated
by the Legislature, the General Fund to make grants in support of the establishment
and operation of lobster hatcheries. The grants shall be for a one-year period and
shall be renewable indefinitely upon successful reapplication. There shall be no more
than 5 lobster hatcheries supported under this section. The commissioner shall develop
rules, including biological and economic criteria for evaluating proposals. The
commissioner shall require the grantee to keep a log of activities regarding the hatchery
and shall require a written report at the termination of each grant.

[
1987, c. 406, (RPR)
.]

7.Lobster Advisory Council.
The commissioner shall consult with the Lobster Advisory Council on the expenditure
of funds under this section.

[
1985, c. 237, §3 (NEW)
.]

8.Apprentice program.
The commissioner may authorize the expenditure of money in the Lobster Fund to cover
the initial costs of developing and delivering the educational component of the apprentice
program under section 6422, subsection 3. Any expenditures must be reimbursed to
the Lobster Fund from the fees charged under section 6422, subsection 3.